Livestrong.com

An index to articles Dr. Grimes has contributed to the STDs Center at Livestrong.com:

Causes, Risk Factors and Prevention of STDs

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also known as sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs) are largely spread exactly how the name suggests – through sexual intimacy. However, although people often believe STIs are only spread through intercourse, the reality is that STIs are easily spread through oral sex (“blow jobs,” “going down”), anal sex and vaginal intercourse. Some STIs, such as pubic lice (“crabs”), can be spread by contaminated clothing or linens, so no sex of any type is required for transmission. Other STIs, such as herpes, syphilis and HPV, can be spread by direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected partner, even without intercourse. Lastly, pregnant mothers infected with an STI can directly pass on this infection to their baby during pregnancy or childbirth. » Read more

What are STDs?

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) include viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections that are passed from person to person during physical intimacy. Rather than STDs, the current preference in medical literature is to use the term sexually transmitted infections (STIs), emphasizing the fact that many infections remain silent and may not cause obvious disease. For example, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is thought to infect the vast majority of sexually active people at some point in their lifetime, yet most of these infections resolve without causing genital warts or cervical cancer, which are the “disease” states of HPV. » Read more

Signs and Symptoms of STDs

Perhaps the most important fact to know about sexually transmitted infections (also known as sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs) is that the vast majority of the time these infections are silent. They literally cause no symptoms at all. Additionally, when STIs do cause symptoms, they may only be present for a brief time – one or two days – and then go away. Unfortunately, just because the itching, burning, discharge, bumps or blisters disappear, that does not mean that the actual infection is gone. Therefore, the only way to know whether or not you have an STI is to get tested. » Read more

Tests and Diagnosis for STDs

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also known as sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs) are extremely common, with over twenty million new cases per year in the United States. Would it be obvious if you caught an STI? Do they all cause immediate physical symptoms? No, typically they do not. In fact, the majority of STIs are silent, causing no symptoms at all for months to years after initial infection. The only way for someone to tell if they have an STI is to get tested. Testing specifics may vary depending upon symptoms (or lack thereof), gender, and provider preference. Clarify which tests will be performed, rather than asking for full STI testing. There is no screening test, for example, for HPV in males. » Read more

Possible Complications of STDs

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), include bacterial, viral and parasitic infections, so complications vary from mild cosmetic issues, to infertility, to serious cancers and other life-threatening diseases. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing complications in STIs. Be aware that the majority of STIs have no symptoms, so the only way to know you are infected is to be tested. » Read more

Drugs and Treatment for STDs

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), are caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses, and parasites. STI treatment is specific to each infection. » Read more

Alternative and Complementary Medicine for STDs

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), permeate our society, with over twenty million new cases in the United States each year, and over 110 million people living with ongoing STIs. While bacterial and parasitic STIs can be treated and eliminated, viral STIs such as herpes, HPV, HIV and hepatitis B and C, do not yet have complete cures. Antiviral medications can suppress these viral STIs, in many cases greatly reducing symptoms and improving quality of life, but they cannot remove the infection. » Read more

Nutrition, Fitness and Lifestyle Choices for STDs

Since sexually transmitted infections (STIs, also known as sexually transmitted diseases or STDs) are transmitted via direct physical intimacy in the vast majority of cases, lifestyle choices regarding physical intimacy play a large role in determining an individual’s risk for contracting an STI. It is important to remember that these infections are incredibly prevalent in our society, with an estimated twenty million new STIs each year in the United States. STIs affect people of all races, socioeconomic status, gender and sexual preference, and over half of these new infections are in young people ages fifteen to twenty four. » Read more

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Jill Grimes, MD, is a board-certified family physician with a passion for preventative medicine. She shares her opinions about all things medical, breaking down complex clinical issues into common sense explanations. Her blog is for informational purposes only, and should not be considered medical advice, as you (the reader) hereby agree that there is no physician-patient relationship. Please do, however, use this information to start a discussion with your own health care providers.